A handful of local ministries and churches gathered Saturday at the Boys and Girls Club with one goal in mind — stopping the violence and reclaiming their community.“There is so much violence in this community,” said Angelique Victor, who founded Young Women of God, which organized the event. “There have been too many deaths. So many of the girls I work with have seen violence or been touched by violence or lost someone to violence at their young ages. It has to stop.”The Stop the Violence vigil aimed to raise community awareness and to inspire people to take back their neighborhoods. Individuals were asked to be examples of peace as well as step forward when they have information about violent crimes or illegal activities.

On the club’s lawn along Walnut Street, people gathered, socialized and many spoke of loved ones lost to violence. Many of the people assembled around what was called a memory wall, which was a tarp painted to look like a brick wall, where people hung pictures of their loved ones and wrote messages to them and to the community.

Kat Russell / Kentucky New Era

Carolyn Grant, the wife of Keon Grant, 28, who suffered a fatal gunshot wound May 14 on East First and Vine streets, hung up a picture of her husband playing basketball. Under the photograph, she wrote, “My other half, My missing piece, I will love you forever.”

Grant said losing her husband has left a hole in her life and the lives of their children. Grant’s 5-year-old son, Christian, and 3-year-old daughter, Joy, attended the vigil.“We’re coping,” she said. “We still miss him, of course, and it’s hard. But we’re coping.”

Grant said she hopes Saturday’s vigil sparks change, so other people won’t have to go through what she and her family have.“I just hope that this is a wake-up call for the community,” she said. “There have been too many senseless deaths.”

Several others spoke out during the vigil, including 12-year-old Mercevion Coleman. Her brother, Robert Fleming, 29, was shot outside a party in February. Fleming survived, but he still has not fully recovered from his injuries.

Mercevion said the shooting was a dark period for her and her family.

“It was sad. I don’t really know how to describe it. I just prayed that he would survive.”

Mercevion also read a letter from her brother, who had just undergone another surgery. In the letter, Fleming spoke of the pain the shooting caused him and his family, highlighted the impact violence has on the community and prayed that Hopkinsville will someday know peace.

Kat Russell / Kentucky New Era

The Rev. Buddy Slaughter, pastor at Means Avenue Baptist Church, discussed the importance of recognizing violence and standing up for the community.

“Violence is any action that harms other people,” he said. “It’s not just physical. It can be bullying or cursing someone out … We need to understand what violence is in order to be able to stop it.”

Slaughter also talked about new programs at the organizations involved with the event. He said they are working to initiate one called the “Safe Haven Program,” which asks local businesses, community agencies and churches to display “Stop the Violence” placards in their windows.

Slaughter said the places that agree would act as safe spaces in the community where those who have witnessed crimes or been victims of crimes can go for support. The way the pastor described the program, the businesses would also serve as neutral ground where people who have witnessed violent crimes or have information about them can meet with law enforcement and share what they know.

“We as a community need to stand up to the violence and take responsibility,” Slaughter said. “We can’t stay quiet. We have to get involved. If we unite as a community, we can change things.”

In addition to the speakers, girls from local youth organizations sang and performed spiritual dances. A balloon release followed the ceremony, during which people were asked to think of a loved one they had lost or who had been touched in some way by violence as they let go of the balloons.

The event concluded with a candlelight vigil and prayers for the community and for those lost to violence.

“I just hope that today inspires change,” said Mercedez Coleman, another one of Fleming’s sisters. “I want to see the people in this community pull together to make a change.”